Penetrator bar for vertical tillage equipment

Abstract

A method and apparatus for pre-fracturing soil before the soil is cut by coulter wheels to achieve an improved cultivation apparatus wherein a penetrator bar is rotatably mounted on the front of a tillage implement and supports a plurality of adjustable S-tines for penetration of the soil prior to cultivation and resulting interaction of the fractured soil with the coulter blades.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to an improved apparatus for prefracturing the soil in a system and method for vertical-till and conservation-till equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for improved penetration of the soil by causing the prefractured soil to simultaneously be lifted vertically and fractured laterally as part of a cultivator or similar tilling equipment while still leaving almost all of the residue on the surface of the soil.[0003]2. Description of Related Art[0004]There are different forms of equipment for use in breaking up soil for cultivation. One may use a plow, a disc harrow, a field cultivator or other suitable field working implements. The present day practice is to utilize a conservation tillage strategy. One such implement is disclosed in US Patent Application Publication US 20060048953 A1 to Rozendaal et al which discloses a plurality of spaced apart coulter ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The present invention relates to an improvement to a tilling implement which results in increased fracturing of the soil, upwardly, outwardly and laterally to successfully achieve cultivation of the soil. In particular, the present invention relates to a conservation tillage implement which has a plurality of individual coulter wheel assemblies although the present invention may be used with different varieties of discs. It has been discovered that one may pre-fracture the soil before the soil is tilled by the disc or coulter wheels which form cultivation tillage implements by disposing a plurality of S-tines on the front of a tilling implement which may be rotated upwardly and downwardly to pre-fracture the soil laterally and well as upwardly and outwardly from the foot of the S-tine to effectively precondition the soil for further tillage by, for example, coulter wheel assemblies as the tilling implement is used.

[0009]A plurality of S-tines is positioned to impact the soil before the coulter wheels impact the soil. This causes the soil to be disrupted and laterally displaced before the coulter wheels cuts the soil resulting in superior cultivation of soil. In some cases, the soil may be so hardened that a coulter wheel does not cultivate the soil. By impacting the soil with an S-tine first in time, the soil is then fractured horizontally, upwardly and outwardly and the coulter wheels more easily cultivate the soil by interaction of the coulter wheels with the pre-fractured soil resulting in an unprecedented tilling implement.

[0010]According to the present invention, there is provided a kit for facilitating a conservation tillage implement which causes the soil to be fractured and to then interact with the fluted coulter wheels to agitate the soil and to cause enhanced cultivation of the soil. By the use of the present invention, the soil may be fractured up to 4 inches deep and laterally up to 7 inches or more at a point between spaced apart fluted coulter wheels. Advantageously, a conservation tillage implement according to the present invention may be drawn at faster speeds than other conservation tillage implements or conventional tillage implements. While some tillage equipment is capable of speeds from 8 to 18 miles per hour, a more typical speed should be 5 to 7 miles per hour. The present invention permits the user to drive 8 to 10 miles per hour rather an expected speed of 5 to 7 miles per hour.

Problems solved by technology

In some cases, the soil may be so hardened that a coulter wheel does not cultivate the soil.

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